Feeler mechanism for looms



Nov. 10, 1925. I 1,561,440

J. c. BROOKS FEELER mscamrsu FOR LOOMS Filed Mayls. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet1 ATT RNE Y Nov. 10, 1925.

' J. c. BROOKS PEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May 18, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 2 aaz Z, larva 1 m m w ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1 925UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. Bnooxs, or rernnson, new JERSEY, assrciion ro zoneJen-RCORPGRATION, or HOPEDALE, 'rvressaorresnrrs, e. ooRPoR-ATIoN'oF MAINE.

rennet. MECHANISM FOR Looms.

Application filed May 18, 1925. SerialNo. 31,000.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN C. Bnoons, a citizen ofthe United States,residing in Paterson, in the county of Passaicand State of New Jersey,have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,isa specification, like characters on the drawings repre senting likeparts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms whereby theoperative condition of the loom is changed from time to time, and moreparticularly to feeler mechanisms of the magnetic type.

Heretofore, magnetic feeler mechanisms have been devised, but theiroperation in practice has not been satisfactory owing to conditionsattending their operation, and one of the purposes of the presentinvention is to provide a feelermechanism of the magnetic type whichshall be simple in construction and effective and satisfactory inoperation.

In accordance with the present invention, the feeler itself is mountedto be drawn rearwardly upon detection of substantial exhaustion of thefilling, to thereby position parts relative to each other for effectinga change in the loom operation,- such as replenishment of filling, onthe following detecting beat of the lay. In carrying this feature of theinvention into effect, the feeler itself is mounted for movement towardsand from the front of the loom in bearings which permit the feeler abodily movement transversely to its rearward movement when it is drawnrearwardly on detection of substantial exhaustion of filling, to therebyrelatively position the feeler and ashouldered member for effectingreplenishment of filling when the feeler is again moved frontwardly onthe next detecting beat of the lay.

The feeler mechanism of the present invention is applicable to eitherthe'replenishing or opposite side of the lay, and the parts are soarranged that on the frontward movement of the feeler when engaged withthe shouldered member, it will itself be withdrawn frontwaidly out ofthe shuttle box, to thereby permit a change of filling carriers in theshuttle should the feeler be employed at the replenishing side of theloom.

parts of a loom at the shipper side, containing the present invention,the parts being shown in their normal position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the feeler mechanismof the-present invention, showing the feeler as having been drawnrearwardly on detection of substantial exhaustion offilling; v

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional side elevation showing the relation ofparts initially positioned for effecting replenishment of filling; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail showing a filling carrier or bobbin whichmay be advantageously employed in connection with the feeler mechanismof the present invention.

The feeler mechanism is shown associated with loom replenishing devices,but thelatter are not illustrated because the details thereof form nopart of the present invention and are now well understood in the art.

The loom frame 1 has mounted on the breast beam 2 thereof the bearings3, one at each side of the loom, in which is supported the transverse orrock shaft 4 from which rises the arm 5 connected at 6-to a rearward- 1yextending arm or actuator 7. The rear portion of the actuator 7 isprovided with'a finger 8 adapted to be engaged at times by an operatingmember 9 which may be the cam follower or a part associated therewith.

Underlying the actuator 7 is the arm 10 pivotally mounted on the loomframe at 11' and having the usual cam portion 12 above which extends anarm 13 pivotally supported at 14 and normally pressed rearward by aspring 15. This train of devices between the feeler mechanism andthetransverse or rock shaft 4 is, or may be, of usual type, or be varied,if desired, the essential being that on detection of substantialexhaustion of filling and call for replenishment, the actuator shall beplaced inoperative relation with the operating member 9. p

The lay 16 may be of usual construction and has the shuttle box 17, thefront wall of which has an opening 18 which registers with a similaropening 19 in the front wall of the shuttle 20 when the latter is in theshuttle box. These parts may be of usual construction.

Adjustably mounted on the shipper stand 21 is the feeler support orstand which, as shown, comprises a base 22, Fig. 2, having slots throughwhich pass the bolts 23 for securing the shipper stand in place.

The feeler stand has a front and a rear bearing for the feeler, and asshown the front bearing comprises an opening 24 in the upwardlyextending member 25 of the feeler stand, the lower wall of the bearing24 being chamfered or cut away from its center towards its edgeportions, as indicated at 26. The rear bearing for the feeler is formedin the upstanding member 27 and is also chamfered on its lower wall by adownward inclination thereof, as indicated at 28, the construction beingsuch that the feeler 29 may not only have a movement towards and fromthe front of the loom in such bearings, but also a movement transverselyto its frontward and rearward movement, or, as in the present instance,in a downward direction, as will presently apear.

The feeler 29 at its front portion adjacent the front bearing is cutaway or recessed at 30, and through a slot or opening 31 therein extendsthe arm of a lever pivoted at 33 and having the frontwardly extendingflat portion 3%, on the top of which is adapted to bear the springwhich, in the present instance, is shown as a leaf spring, having itsfront end portion 36 upturned, the construction being such that thespring acts through the pivoted lever to normally hold the feeler in itsposition of detection of filling, but with permissive movement bothrearwardly and front-wardly, as will further appear.

The tip end portion 37 of the feeler may be formed either as a permanentmagnet or it may be an electric magnet by the use of the electric wires38, but the details of such magnet or electric magnet may be variedwidely within the true scope of the invention, the essential being inthis respect that the tip portion of the feeler will be magnetized tocooperate with a metal band 39, which may be secured to the fillingcarrier or bobbin 40, otherwise of usual type, as indicated in Fig. -l,the construction being such that when the feeler detects substan tialexhaustion of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat, it will bedrawn rearwardly, and to limit such rearward movement, a stop 41 isadjustably secured to the feeler frontward of the rear bearing 27.

\Vhen the feeler is drawn rearwardly as the lay goes back on a detectingbeat and upon substantial exhaustion of filling, which uncovers the band39, it will drop in the chamfered bearings 26, 28, as indicated in Fig.2, and advantage is taken of this drop ping or transverse movement ofthe feeler on its rearward drawing movement to operatively position theparts for effecting replenishment of filling on the following detectingbeat.

The feeler 29 has adjustably secured thereto a projection or tooth 42which may be clamped in adjusting position by a bolt 43, and below thefeeler is mounted a shouldered member or slide l l having a shoulder l5adapted to be engaged by the projection 42 when, as the feeler is drawnrearwardly, it is lowered or moved transversely in its chamferedbearings.

The shouldered member or slide 14 is mounted in the front and rearupstanding members 25 and 27 and has a collar 46 wnich may appropriatelylimit its rearward movement.

Pivot-ally mounted in the feeler stand at 4-7 is the dog positioner,shown formed as a lever, one arm 48 of which normally rests against thefront end portion 49 of the shouldered member or slide 44, and the otherarm 50 of which is connected at 51 to a link 52, the lower end portionof which has a slot 53 which engages a pin M on a dog which is itselfconnected at 56 to the downwardly extending arm 57 of the transmitter13, the construction being such that should the dog be moved frontwardlyit will act through the transmitter to operatively relate the parts foreffecting replenishment of filling.

in accordance with the present invention, the lay 16 has mounted thereona bunter which is adapted to engage the dog when the latter isoperatively positioned by the dog positioner. Adjacent the bunter 58 isa lug 59 which, when the dog positioner has been initially moved by theshouldered member or slide ia, engages the inclined end portion 60 ofthe dog positioner which has been initially raised, as indicated in Fi3, and thus insures that the dog itself shall be moved to operativeposition with relation to the bunter 58. By this construction of the lug59 and inclined end 60 of the dog positioner, the stress of moving thedog 'nto the path of the bunter is removed from the shouldered member orslide after the initial positioning of the parts.

The front end portion of the feeler is provided with a downturned too orfoot 61, and between it and the shoulderd member or slide 44 extends theenlarged end portion of the arm 48 of the dog positioner, with theresult that when the dog positioner assumes its full transferringposition, the feeler itsself will be moved frontwardly or withdrawn fromthe shuttle box.

From the construction hereinbefore described as one good practical formof the present invention, it will appear that during normal weavingoperations with a workin supply of filling in the shuttle, the fteelerwill be given a frontward movement on its detecting beat and therebyswing the lever 32 frontwardly, and as the lay goes back the spring 35acting upon the fiat portion 34: of the lever 32 will return the feelerto its initial position. When, however, the filling had becomesubstantially exhausted and the metal band 39 on the filling carrier orbobbin is exposed, the magnet or magnetic tip 37 of the feeler willcause the ieeler to be withdrawn rearwardly as the lay goes back,thereby bringing the recessed portion 30 of the feeler rearward topermit a drop of the feeler and cause the projection 42 to engagerearward of the shoulder 45 extending from the slide 44. On the nextdetecting beat, the feeler will again engage the filling carrier orbobbin in the shuttle and be moved frontwardly thereby. Such trontwardmovement of the feeler on the second detecting beat effects frontwardmovement of the shouldered member or slide 14;, thereby actuating thedog positioner and operatively relating the parts to effectreplenishment of filling.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler having amagnetic tip that causes the feeler to be moved rearwardly on detectionof substantial exhaustion of filling in the shuttle and by such movementto be lowered to initiate replenishment of filling as the feeler ismoved frontwardly on the next detecting beat, and means actuated by suchfrontward movement of the feeler for effecting replenishment of filling.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler having amagnetic tip by which it is moved rearwardly on detection of substantialexhaustion of the filling, means operatively positioned by such rearwardmovement of the feeler to efiect replenishment of filling by frontwardmovement of the feeler on the next detecting beat and means for normallyholding the feeler in feeling position.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler having amagnetic tip by which it is moved rearwardly on detection of substantialexhaustion of the filling, a slide adjacent the feeler and having ashoulder, a projection extending from the feeler adapted to engage saidshoulder when the teeler is moved rearwardly as described and by whichthe slide is moved :trontwardly on the following detecting beat, andmeans positioned by the slide as it is moved frontwardly to effect achange in the loom operation.

l. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

detecting beat to efi'ect replenishment of filling.

5. In a tee-ler mechanism for looms,'the combination of a feeler havinga magnetic tip by which it is drawn rearwardly on detection ofsubstantial exhaustion of filling, a slide arranged parallel to thefeeler and having a shoulder, a projection on the feeler adapted toengage rearwardly of the shoulder when the feeler is drawn rearwardly,and means controlled by the slide as it is moved frontwardly by thefeeler on the next detecting beat to efiiect replenishment of fillingand withdraw the feeler frontwardly from the shuttle box.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler having amagnetic tip by which it is drawn rearwardly on detection of substantialexhaustion of filling, a stop for limiting the rearward movement of thefeeler as the lay goes back, a slide arranged parallel to the feeler andhaving a shoulder, a projection on the feeler adapted to engagerearwardly of the shoulder when the feeler is drawn rearwardly and meanscontrolled by the slide as it is moved frontwardly by the feeler on thenext detecting beat to effect replenishment of filling.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler having amagnetic tip by which it is drawn rearwardly on detection of substantialexhaustion of filling, a slide arranged parallel to the feeler andhaving a shoulder, bearings in which the feeler is movable towards theslide as it is drawn rearwardly, a projection on the feeler adapted toengage rearwardly of the shoulder when the teeler is drawn rearwardly,and means controlled by the slide as it is moved frontwardly by thefeeler on the next detecting beat to efiect replenishment of filling.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a magnetic feeleradapted to be drawn rearwardly on detection of substantial exhaustion offilling, a dog adapted to be positioned for movement by the lay, a dogpositioner member, a shouldered member adapted to act upon thepositioning member, bearings in which the feeler 1s movable towards theshouldered member to engage therewith when the feeler is drawnrearwardly, and means to move the shouldered member on the next movementof the feeler frontwardly to effect a change in the loom operation.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a magnetic feeleradapted to be drawn rearwardly on detection of sub stantial exhaustionof filling, a dog adapted to be positioned for movement by the lay, adog positioner member, a shouldered mem ber adapted to act upon thepositioning member, bearings in which the feeler is movable towards theshouldered member to entherewith when the feeler is drawn rearwardly,means to move the shouldered member on the next movement of the feelerfrontwardly to effect a change in the loom operation, and meanseifective on frontward movement of the shouldered member to withdraw thelieeler frontwardly.

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a magneticteeler adapted to be drawn rearwardly on detection of substantialexhausticn of filling, a stop for limiting the rearward movement of thefeeler as the lay goes back, a dog adapted to be positioned for movementby the lay, a dog positioner member, a shouldered member adapted to actupon the positioning member, bearings in which the feeler is movabletowards the shouldered member for engagement therewith when the feeleris drawn rearwardly, and means to move the shouldered member on the nextmovement of the feeler trontwardly to effect a change in the loomoperation.

11. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a magneticteeler adapted to be drawn rearwardly as the lay goes back, chamferedbearings in which the feeler may more transversely to its rearward movement as the feeler is drawn rearwardly, a shouldered member adapted tobe engaged by the feeler when it is drawn rearwardly, a dog, a dogpositioner adapted to be actuated by the shouldered member when it ismoved frontwardly by the feeler, and a hunter on the lay for engagingthe dog to effect replenishment of filling.

12. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a magneticfeeler that is drawn rearwardly on detection of substan tial exhaustionof the filling, a shouldered member that is opcratively engaged by thetli'eeler when it is drawn rearwardly, a dog, a dog positioner which isinitially moved by the shouldered member, a part on the lay for insuringfull movement of the dog positioning member, and a hunter on the lay forengaging the dog. I

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN C. BROOKS.

